4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor with Hot Air Balloon

Sail the Nile and rise above Luxor at dawn

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with an English-speaking guide, three nights aboard a 5-star cruise ship, and a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the West Bank. You disembark for guided tours of Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Hatshepsut, with meals and all transfers included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Meet guide at Aswan arrival point
• Transfer to 5-star Nile Cruise
• Lunch on board
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Boat to Philae Temple
• Dinner and folkloric show on cruise

Day 2: Kom Ombo and Edfu temples visit

• Morning cruise sailing to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on cruise
• Sail to Edfu
• Lunch on board
• Horse carriage ride to Edfu Temple
• Relax on deck sailing to Luxor
• Cross Esna Lock and afternoon tea
• Arrive in Luxor

Day 3: Luxor and Karnak temples tour

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Lunch on board
• Overnight on cruise in Luxor

Day 4: Hot air balloon and West Bank tour

• Early morning hot air balloon flight
• Breakfast and check out
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Optional lunch at local restaurant
• Transfer to Luxor airport or hotel

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan with a pickup from the airport, train station, or your hotel, and lunch on board before your first tour. Day one takes you to the Aswan High Dam, built in 1960 to control the Nile's flood cycle, then by motorboat to Philae Temple, a Greco-Roman sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Isis. You return to the ship for dinner and an overnight stay.

On day two, the cruise sails early to Kom Ombo, where you visit the dual temple of Sobek and Horus, then continues downriver to Edfu. A horse carriage ride takes you to the Temple of Horus, one of Egypt's most complete and best-preserved temples. You watch the Nile landscape from the deck as the ship crosses the Esna Lock and reaches Luxor by evening.

Day three focuses on Luxor's East Bank: the Luxor Temple, which layers ancient Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic architecture, and Karnak Temple, the largest temple ever built, spanning 63 acres and constructed over 2,000 years. Breakfast and lunch are on the cruise, with an overnight stay in Luxor.

On the final morning, a pickup around 5 a.m. takes you aloft for a 30- to 45-minute hot air balloon flight over the West Bank at sunrise. After breakfast, you visit the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains, then the Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari. A photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon concludes the tour before transfer to Luxor airport or your hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant is optional.

What’s included

• An English-speaking Egyptology guide.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified driver.
• a 30- to 45-minute hot air balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank at sunrise.
• three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise on a full-board basis.
• meet-and-assist service by English-speaking representatives.
• all local taxes and service charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, including a hot air balloon ride, aboard the M/S Le fayanUp to 30 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Pickup is included

Luxury Movenpick Royal LillyUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Movenpick cruise with tours, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Get Nile Cruise

Is this one for you?The 4-day duration fits the major temples and the West Bank sites into a single journey down the Nile, so you see Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor's landmarks without backtracking. The hot air balloon at sunrise is included, not an add-on, and the ship's overnight stays let you wake at each stop ready to explore rather than traveling by land.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the meals during the 4-day cruise?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on board the cruise ship on a full-board basis for all three nights. The itinerary notes that lunch on day one is included after you board, and meals continue throughout the journey. A local restaurant lunch on the final day is optional.

How does the hot air balloon flight work on the last morning?

The balloon ride departs around 5 a.m. from Luxor's West Bank and lasts 30 to 45 minutes, giving you an aerial view of the landscape and temples as the sun rises. You return to the ship for breakfast before the day's guided tours begin.

What happens if the M/S Le Fayan cruise ship isn't available?

If the M/S Le Fayan is unavailable, the operator upgrades the booking to either the Movenpick Royal Lilly or Movenpick Royal Lotus, both 5-star Nile cruise ships.

What's the schedule for the Valley of the Kings visit?

The Valley of the Kings tour takes place on the morning of day four, after the hot air balloon flight and breakfast. The visit itself lasts about two hours, exploring the mountain tombs carved by New Kingdom pharaohs.